Prisoner swap deal bolsters hopes of progress in Yemen talks
6 years, 3 months ago

Prisoner swap deal bolsters hopes of progress in Yemen talks

Associated Press  

RIMBO, Sweden — Yemen’s warring sides agreed to a broad prisoner swap Thursday, sitting down in the same room together for the first time in years at U.N.- Hopes were high that the talks wouldn’t deteriorate into further violence as in the past, and that the prisoner exchange would be an important first step toward building confidence between highly distrustful adversaries. “I’m also pleased to announce the signing of an agreement on the exchange of prisoners, detainees, the missing, the forcibly detained and individuals placed under house arrest,” Griffiths said from the venue. Griffiths said the talks would address several main points mentioned by both sides: broader prisoner exchanges, the release of funds to the central bank to pay civil servants in rebel-controlled territory, a possible handover of the port at Hodeida to the U.N., and rebel calls to lift the coalition’s blockade of Sanaa airport to commercial traffic. Verhoosel said the rollout will require “safe, immediate and unimpeded access for food and other vital supplies.” Twenty million people, or 70 percent, of Yemenis are “food insecure,” U.N Humanitarian Coordinator Lisa Grande said, meaning they do not have reliable access to sufficient amounts of nutritious food.

Food Work Sweden Yemen Saudi Talks Houthi Prisoner Griffiths Both Sides  prisoner  talks  bolsters  parties  work  progress  million  food  griffiths  humanitarian  deal  hopes  swap  sides  yemen

History of this topic

Yemen’s Houthis freed over 100 war prisoners, the Red Cross says
10 months ago

Yemen’s Houthis freed over 100 war prisoners, the Red Cross says

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ …

Biden thanks Qatar’s emir for rare Iran-US prisoner swap deal
1 year, 5 months ago

Biden thanks Qatar’s emir for rare Iran-US prisoner swap deal

Al Jazeera  

Doha-mediated deal saw Iran free five Americans in exchange for five Iranians held in the US and transfer of $6bn in Iranian funds. Qatar’s Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has received a phone call from United States President Joe Biden who has thanked the Gulf nation’s emir for his help in mediating a landmark prisoner swap deal with Iran. …

Saudi Arabia praises ‘positive results’ after Yemen’s Houthi rebels visit kingdom for peace talks
1 year, 6 months ago

Saudi Arabia praises ‘positive results’ after Yemen’s Houthi rebels visit kingdom for peace talks

The Hindu  

Saudi Arabia on Wednesday praised the “positive results” of negotiations with Yemen’s Houthi rebels after they visited the kingdom for peace talks, though Riyadh released few details on their discussions to end the war tearing at the Arab world’s poorest nation. The Saudi Foreign Ministry in a statement early Wednesday marking the end of the Houthis’ trip “welcomed the positive …

Saudi Arabia praises ‘positive results’ after Yemen’s Houthi rebels visit kingdom for peace talks
1 year, 6 months ago

Saudi Arabia praises ‘positive results’ after Yemen’s Houthi rebels visit kingdom for peace talks

Associated Press  

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Saudi Arabia on Wednesday praised the “positive results” of negotiations with Yemen’s Houthi rebels after they visited the kingdom for peace talks, though Riyadh released few details on their discussions to end the war tearing at the Arab world’s poorest nation. The Saudi Foreign Ministry in a statement early Wednesday marking the end of the …

Iran-US prisoner swap: How Democrats and Republicans reacted to the deal
1 year, 6 months ago

Iran-US prisoner swap: How Democrats and Republicans reacted to the deal

Al Jazeera  

Republicans decry the exchange as US officials hail the release of detainees and warn Americans against travel to Iran. Donald Trump slams prisoner swap Former US President Donald Trump slammed the prisoner swap on Monday, calling Biden “dumb” for agreeing to unfreeze the Iranian funds. US ‘confident’ funds will be used for humanitarian purposes: Blinken Secretary of State Antony Blinken …

US-Iran relations: Why did the prisoner exchange deal happen now?
1 year, 7 months ago

US-Iran relations: Why did the prisoner exchange deal happen now?

Al Jazeera  

Critics have argued that the US has given into Iranian blackmail by agreeing to a prisoner exchange deal. I’m not saying Iranian law is practised in an appropriate way, but since the US withdrew from the 2018 JCPOA nuclear deal and placed Iran under extraordinary sanctions and froze all its funds when Tehran had been complying with the deal, the …

Yemeni detainees recount torture after release in prisoner swap
1 year, 11 months ago

Yemeni detainees recount torture after release in prisoner swap

Al Jazeera  

Prisoner swap earlier in April was one of the biggest of the war in Yemen so far, allowing detainees to finally be free. It was an ordeal that only ended on April 16, when Albazili, now 32, was released as part of a prisoner swap between the Houthis and the Yemeni government, part of wider negotiations that are continuing between …

Red Cross: Yemen’s warring sides wrap up major prisoner swap
1 year, 11 months ago

Red Cross: Yemen’s warring sides wrap up major prisoner swap

Associated Press  

SANAA, Yemen — Yemen’s warring sides on Sunday wrapped up a major exchange of prisoners linked to the country’s long-running conflict, according to the International Committee for the Red Cross. The three-day operation, which started Friday, was the most significant prisoner exchange in Yemen since the Saudi-led coalition and their rivals, the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, released more than 1,000 detainees …

Yemen rebels and government complete prisoner exchange
1 year, 11 months ago

Yemen rebels and government complete prisoner exchange

Al Jazeera  

Scores of prisoners have been freed on the last of a three-day exchange of nearly 900 detainees. Yemeni rebels and government forces have freed scores of prisoners, including a woman, on the last of a three-day exchange of more than 800 detainees, boosting hopes of ending their protracted war. “She was freed in exchange for the release of journalists held …

Saudi Arabia and Iran end their explosive proxy-war
1 year, 11 months ago

Saudi Arabia and Iran end their explosive proxy-war

The Telegraph  

Saudi Arabia and Iran’s surprise agreement to put aside their explosive rivalry has raised hopes of resolving conflicts from Yemen and Syria, to Iraq and Lebanon. The Syrian foreign minister became the first senior Damascus official to visit Saudi Arabia since the start of the civil war, as Arab states discussed normalising relations with the government of President Bashar al-Assad. …

Red Cross: Yemen rebels, Saudi coalition begin prisoner swap
1 year, 11 months ago

Red Cross: Yemen rebels, Saudi coalition begin prisoner swap

Associated Press  

SANAA, Yemen — An exchange of more than 800 prisoners linked to Yemen’s long-running war began on Friday, the International Committee for the Red Cross said. Carboni acknowledged some former prisoners needed medical care before making their flight, but “nothing out of the ordinary.” Meanwhile, prisoners released by the rebel Houthis took flights to Aden, the seat of the country’s …

Yemen rebels, Saudi coalition begin United Nations-brokered prisoner swap
1 year, 11 months ago

Yemen rebels, Saudi coalition begin United Nations-brokered prisoner swap

The Hindu  

An exchange of more than 800 prisoners from Yemen's war held by the Houthi rebels and the Saudi-led coalition battling them began on April 14, the International Committee for the Red Cross said. The three-day exchange will see flights transport prisoners between Saudi Arabia and Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, long held by the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, said Majed Fadail, a deputy …

Hundreds released in Yemen prisoner swap after Houthi-Saudi talks
1 year, 11 months ago

Hundreds released in Yemen prisoner swap after Houthi-Saudi talks

Al Jazeera  

Nearly 900 detainees are expected to be released according to an agreement reached between warring parties in Yemen. The release and swap of nearly 900 detainees by the two sides in Yemen’s conflict has begun, a significant confidence-building measure as peace talks between Saudi envoys and Houthi rebels intensify. The International Committee of the Red Cross, which is managing the …

Progress in Yemen peace talks hailed despite prisoner swap delay
1 year, 11 months ago

Progress in Yemen peace talks hailed despite prisoner swap delay

Al Jazeera  

The direct talks between Houthi and Saudi officials have raised hopes for peace in Yemen ravaged by nine years of war. A prisoner swap expected on Wednesday between Yemen’s Houthi rebels and the internationally recognised government has been delayed, but the first remarks by warring factions on the latest peace talks to end the country’s nine-year conflict conveyed optimism. Saudi …

Saudi diplomat: Talks with Houthis aim to revive Yemen truce
1 year, 11 months ago

Saudi diplomat: Talks with Houthis aim to revive Yemen truce

Associated Press  

CAIRO — Saudi Arabia’s ambassador to Yemen said Monday his trip to the Houthi-held capital of Sanaa was aimed at reviving a cease-fire and re-starting political talks to end the nine-year conflict. Yemen’s conflict began in 2014 when the Iran-backed Houthis seized Sanaa and much of Yemen’s north, ousting the internationally recognized government that fled to the south then into …

Yemeni sides say deal reached to free nearly 900 prisoners
2 years ago

Yemeni sides say deal reached to free nearly 900 prisoners

Associated Press  

CAIRO — Yemen’s warring sides said Monday they agreed to release nearly 900 prisoners of war in a U.N.-brokered deal amid international efforts to end the yearslong conflict. They were detained and sentenced to death in recent years by a Houthi-controlled court in a trial described by Amnesty International as “grossly unfair.” Fadail said the deal also includes the release …

Houthi rebels: 15 Saudis to be released in Yemen prisoner swap
2 years ago

Houthi rebels: 15 Saudis to be released in Yemen prisoner swap

Al Jazeera  

Yemeni government and Houthis say more than 800 prisoners will be exchanged in total, after UN-mediated talks. Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthi group said it would release 181 detainees, including 15 Saudis and three Sudanese, in exchange for 706 prisoners from the government, according to statements on Twitter by the head of the Houthis’ prisoner affairs committee Abdul Qader al-Murtada and the …

Yemen sides begin UN-brokered talks on prisoner exchange
2 years ago

Yemen sides begin UN-brokered talks on prisoner exchange

Associated Press  

CAIRO — Yemen’s warring sides began talks Saturday aimed at implementing a U.N.-brokered deal on a prisoner exchange, the United Nations said. Majed Fadail, Yemen’s deputy minister for human rights and a member of the government delegation, said the talks would last for 11 days, the government-run SABA news agency reported. The talks are a follow-up to a 2018 agreement …

Yemen discussing prisoner swap with Houthi rebels in Geneva
2 years ago

Yemen discussing prisoner swap with Houthi rebels in Geneva

Firstpost  

Yemen: Representatives of Yemen’s government and Iran-backed Huthi rebels kicked off talks in Geneva on Saturday for an exchange of prisoners, with the UN urging both sides to engage in “serious” discussions. “I hope the parties are ready to engage in serious and forthcoming discussions to agree on releasing as many detainees as possible,” UN special envoy for Yemen Hans …

Yemen’s warring sides hold prisoner exchange talks in Geneva
2 years ago

Yemen’s warring sides hold prisoner exchange talks in Geneva

Al Jazeera  

The Yemen talks began a day after Iran and Saudi Arabia announced a deal to re-establish diplomatic ties. Representatives of Yemen’s government and the Iran-aligned Houthi rebels began talks in Geneva on Saturday aimed at implementing a deal on an exchange of prisoners, the United Nations said. Under that deal, the sides agreed “to release all prisoners, detainees, missing persons, …

Iran blames US for delay in prisoner swap deal
2 years, 1 month ago

Iran blames US for delay in prisoner swap deal

Al Jazeera  

It remains unclear whether an agreement can be finalised as Tehran maintains Washington is acting in bad faith. Tehran, Iran – Iran has blamed the United States for failing to reach an agreement over a prisoner swap deal amid reports that progress had been made after a lull of several months. Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanani on Monday told …

US and Iran in indirect talks on prisoner swap deal: Report
2 years, 1 month ago

US and Iran in indirect talks on prisoner swap deal: Report

Al Jazeera  

Qatar and UK are acting as intermediaries to secure agreement to release Americans jailed in Iran, NBC News reports. The United States and Iran are in indirect negotiations to secure a possible prisoner exchange, with Qatar and the United Kingdom acting as intermediaries, NBC News has reported, citing four unidentified sources. “What is not sensitive and what I repeat just …

Saudi-led coalition sends dozens of freed prisoners to Yemen
2 years, 10 months ago

Saudi-led coalition sends dozens of freed prisoners to Yemen

Al Jazeera  

Coalition says 108 detainees were flown on Friday from Saudi Arabia to the southern Yemeni city of Aden. The Saudi-led coalition engaged in Yemen said has said it transported more than 100 freed prisoners to Yemen in coordination with the International Committee of the Red Cross in a humanitarian initiative to support a United Nations-brokered truce. The coalition said last …

Yemen: Saudi Arabia to release 163 Houthi prisoners
2 years, 10 months ago

Yemen: Saudi Arabia to release 163 Houthi prisoners

Al Jazeera  

Saudi officials say the move is aimed at solidifying a two-month truce that went into effect in early April. The Saudi Arabian-led coalition fighting in Yemen has said it would release 163 prisoners from Yemen’s Houthi rebel group who fought against the kingdom, as part of a humanitarian initiative. The coalition had already begun taking measures to release the prisoners …

Yemen’s warring sides resume prisoner exchange talks in Jordan
4 years, 2 months ago

Yemen’s warring sides resume prisoner exchange talks in Jordan

Al Jazeera  

Yemen’s warring sides have begun fresh United Nations-backed negotiations in Jordan on a prisoner exchange, according to officials. Sunday’s meeting in Amman between the Saudi-backed government and the Houthi rebels, who have been at war for almost six years, came days after the United States designated the rebel group as a foreign “terrorist” organisation, a move the UN had warned …

Yemen’s rival sides complete war’s largest prisoner exchange
4 years, 5 months ago

Yemen’s rival sides complete war’s largest prisoner exchange

Associated Press  

SANAA, Yemen — Yemen’s warring sides completed a major, U.N.-brokered prisoner swap on Friday, officials said, a development that could revive the country’s stalled peace process after more than five years of grinding conflict. This week’s prisoner release, the largest-ever in the war, marks a breakthrough in the implementation of a long-awaited deal between Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels and a …

Yemen’s warring sides kick off largest prisoner swap to date
4 years, 5 months ago

Yemen’s warring sides kick off largest prisoner swap to date

Associated Press  

SANAA, Yemen — Yemen’s warring sides on Thursday kicked off a long-awaited, U.N.-brokered prisoner exchange, an unprecedented release of detainees amid a conflict that has spawned the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. Fabrizio Carboni, ICRC’s regional director for the Middle East, said the operation was “a good first step towards building the confidence needed between parties to the conflict.” A rebel-run …

Yemen’s warring sides begin prisoner swap, raising hope for peace
4 years, 5 months ago

Yemen’s warring sides begin prisoner swap, raising hope for peace

Al Jazeera  

Warring factions in Yemen to exchange 1,081 prisoners under a deal struck last month, igniting peace prospects. The warring sides in Yemen’s long conflict will exchange some 1,081 prisoners on Thursday and Friday under a deal struck in Switzerland last month, a senior rebel official said. “The transaction will be executed, with God’s help, on the scheduled dates today and …

Two Americans, 240 Yemen rebel backers freed in apparent swap
4 years, 5 months ago

Two Americans, 240 Yemen rebel backers freed in apparent swap

Al Jazeera  

US national security adviser thanks Saudi king and Omani sultan for efforts in securing release of its citizens. Two Americans have been freed from captivity in Yemen as more than 200 supporters of the country’s Houthi rebels are being allowed to return home, in an apparent swap involving Saudi Arabia and Oman. Robert O’Brien, the US national security adviser, stopped …

Yemen gov’t, Houthis agree to exchange over 1,000 prisoners
4 years, 6 months ago

Yemen gov’t, Houthis agree to exchange over 1,000 prisoners

Al Jazeera  

Yemen’s warring sides agree to exchange more than 1,000 prisoners during UN- Yemen’s internationally recognised government and the Houthi rebels agreed to exchange about 1,000 detainees and prisoners, including 15 Saudis, as part of trust-building steps aimed at reviving a stalled peace process, the United Nations said. Sources familiar with the talks and Houthi-run Masirah TV said the rebels would …

Yemen's rival sides meet in Geneva for prisoner swap talks
4 years, 6 months ago

Yemen's rival sides meet in Geneva for prisoner swap talks

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Yemen’s warring sides on Friday …

Yemeni warring sides hold UN-sponsored talks on prisoner swap
4 years, 6 months ago

Yemeni warring sides hold UN-sponsored talks on prisoner swap

Al Jazeera  

UN envoy says he hopes meeting in Switzerland to result in swift release of detainees. The United Nations envoy to Yemen has said the country’s warring sides have begun talks in Switzerland on a prisoner exchange deal. Martin Griffiths said on Friday he hoped the UN- “My message to the parties is conclude discussions, release detainees swiftly, bring relief to …

Why Houthis offered Saudi POWs swap for jailed Palestinians
4 years, 11 months ago

Why Houthis offered Saudi POWs swap for jailed Palestinians

Al Jazeera  

Leader of Yemen-based Houthi rebels offers Saudi pilot and officers in a swap for Palestinian activists in Saudi jails. When the leader of Yemen’s Houthi rebels recently offered a surprise prisoner exchange to Saudi Arabia, the announcement brought to light the case of dozens of Palestinians on trial in the kingdom, where they are accused of “supporting terrorism”. Saudi Arabia …

Yemen’s warring sides agree to ‘large-scale’ prisoner exchange
5 years, 1 month ago

Yemen’s warring sides agree to ‘large-scale’ prisoner exchange

Al Jazeera  

Yemen‘s warring sides have agreed to implement a major prisoner swap, the United Nations has said, in a breakthrough that came after another bout of heavy fighting, including air raids by a Saudi-UAE-led military coalition that killed dozens of civilians. The UN mission in Yemen said in a statement that both sides had decided to “immediately begin with exchanging the …

Sealed with a kiss: Yemen’s rivals agree to swap 16,000 prisoners
6 years, 3 months ago

Sealed with a kiss: Yemen’s rivals agree to swap 16,000 prisoners

Al Jazeera  

Deal will cover 8,576 people detained by the Houthis, including teachers and children, and 7,487 Houthi fighters. Rimbo, Sweden – Yemen’s warring sides have agreed terms on a large-scale prisoner swap with more than 16,000 detainees expected to be released early next year. ‘Still major obstacles to overcome’ Maysa Shuja al-Deen, a non-resident fellow at the Sanaa Center for Strategic …

Yemen's Warring Sides Shake Hands On Deal To Swap Thousands Of Prisoners
6 years, 3 months ago

Yemen's Warring Sides Shake Hands On Deal To Swap Thousands Of Prisoners

NPR  

Yemen's Warring Sides Shake Hands On Deal To Swap Thousands Of Prisoners Enlarge this image toggle caption Claudio Bresciani/AFP/Getty Images Claudio Bresciani/AFP/Getty Images There were scenes of raised hands and smiles from Yemen's warring sides as they met Tuesday in a Swedish castle for U.N.-brokered peace talks. According to Reuters, envoys said it "would be conducted via Houthi-held Sanaa airport …

Yemen’s government to swap hundreds of prisoners with Houthis
6 years, 3 months ago

Yemen’s government to swap hundreds of prisoners with Houthis

Al Jazeera  

Deal expected to cover up to 2,000 pro-government forces and 1,500 Houthis, as warring parties prepare for Sweden talks. Stockholm, Sweden – Yemen’s government has said it has agreed to a large-scale prisoner swap with its adversaries, the Houthi rebels, as part of a “confidence-building measure”, suggesting the warring sides could come to a ceasefire agreement at peace talks in …

Discover Related